Los Angeles Dodgers top prospect Alex Verdugo went 2-for-4 for Triple-A Oklahoma City in his return Monday from an ankle injury.
Verdugo missed the last five games with the sprained ankle and served as the designated hitter in the loss against the Nashville Sounds. The Dodgers out-hit Nashville, 10 to four, but weren’t able to cash in with runners in scoring position, resulting in a 3-2 loss.
A couple of relievers that have pitched at the Major League level this season appeared in the game for Oklahoma City, as switch-pitcher Pat Venditte tossed a perfect inning of relief, striking out one, and left-hander Adam Liberatore gave up a hit and a walk while only recording one out.
Verdugo made his MLB debut in 2017 as a September call-up and then received another opportunity in a short stint this season when Yasiel Puig was out with an injury.
In nine games with the Dodgers, Verdugo went 9-for-34 (.265 batting average) with two walks, three runs scored and an RBI. Going into play Monday, he was batting .301/.336/.456 with four home runs and 18 RBI in 26 games for Oklahoma City.
The 22-year-old will likely be back in the Majors at some point this season, although the main focus is for him to be playing every day and getting regular at-bats, which currently wouldn’t happen with the Dodgers due to the glut of outfielders ahead of him on the depth chart.
That’s become even more crowded since Verdugo was optioned to Oklahoma City, as Cody Bellinger has been shifted out to center field.
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